Manassas Park calls itself Virginia's newest city. The first houses went up in 1955, the town incorporated in 1957, and it became an independent city in 1975. Much of what stands here today comes from that mid-century suburban building boom, so many stairways in town were built in the same era and to similar plans.
The city covers about 3.03 square miles south of Bull Run, with Virginia State Route 28 running through the middle. Homes sit close together on a dense, walkable layout: single-family homes, townhouses, walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings. This page walks through what that housing means for a stair lift and where local families can look for help paying for one.
Houses from a mid-century building boom were often built to repeat a handful of floor plans. When a staircase runs in a single straight flight from one floor to the next, a straight stair lift is usually the simplest fit. The rail mounts to the stair treads, not the wall, so older plaster or drywall is not a problem.
Some homes have a landing, a turn at the top or bottom, or a split-level layout with short runs between floors. Those stairs usually call for a curved rail built to the exact shape of the staircase. We measure every step before recommending one type over the other.
Townhouses tend to stack living space on several floors, which can mean more than one flight to cover. A separate lift on each flight is common, and a curved rail can sometimes carry a rider past an intermediate landing without a transfer.
In walk-up apartments and low-rise buildings, the stairs are often shared. A lift in a common stairwell needs permission from the owner or building management, so it helps to have that conversation before an assessment. If the main obstacle is the steps up to the front door, an outdoor lift or a platform lift may solve the problem better than an indoor chair.
That veteran share is worth noting, because several of the funding options below come through the VA, and the Virginia Department of Veterans Services has a Manassas office nearby at (703) 479-7437.
Roughly 67.6% of households own their home. Owners can install a permanent rail with no outside approval, and some programs, such as the VA Specially Adapted Housing grant, require home ownership. Renters can still get a lift, but they should get the landlord's written approval first.
Manassas Park is small, so most aging and disability services are shared with Prince William County and the City of Manassas. The Prince William Area Agency on Aging handles intake and referrals for all three, and Project Mend-A-House is the local nonprofit whose work explicitly includes installing stair climbers.
State and federal options can help with related costs, but read the details. The Virginia Livable Home Tax Credit and the CCC Plus Waiver do not name stair lifts in their source rules, and the VA HISA grant specifically excludes stair glides. The program list below spells out each one, and statewide resources also include the Assistive Technology Loan Fund Authority (ATLFA).
Because the city is compact, home-modification and aging-services providers based in Manassas or Prince William County can reach Manassas Park homes quickly. The Prince William AAA office is at 5 County Complex Court, and the veterans office is at 9300 West Courthouse Road, Suite 305, in Manassas.
For residents who no longer drive, the Virginia Railway Express commuter rail station in Manassas Park is another way to get to appointments and offices in the region.
A nonprofit home-repair group serving low-income homeowners, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities in Prince William County, the City of Manassas and the City of Manassas Park; its listed projects include installing stair climbers. Work is free for households below its income guidelines and sliding-scale above them; call (703) 792-7663.
The local intake, information and referral point for older adults, families and caregivers in Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park; it is not a cash grant, and its source does not mention stair lifts. Call (703) 792-6374.
A state tax credit of up to 50% of retrofitting costs, capped at $6,500 per project, for permanent accessibility features, with unused credit carrying forward up to 7 years. The program does not list stair lifts among its examples, so ask before counting on it; call (804) 371-7000.
For Medicaid members who would otherwise need nursing-facility care, it offers up to $5,000 per year for environmental modifications and a separate $5,000 per year for assistive technology. The regulation does not name stair lifts; call (833) 522-5582.
A VA grant for medically necessary home alterations, up to $6,800 lifetime for a service-connected disability or $2,000 for other non-service-connected disabilities. It explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts; the VA directs applicants to its Facility Locator tool.
Grants for veterans with qualifying severe service-connected disabilities, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026. Stair lifts are not named among covered modifications; call (800) 827-1000.
Serves people with disabilities of all ages in Prince William County, Fauquier County, Manassas and Manassas Park with referrals, advocacy, peer support and Medicaid waiver assistance rather than home-modification grants. Its source does not mention stair lifts; call (703) 257-5400.
Older adults
5 County Complex Court, Prince William, 22192
Veterans
9300 West Courthouse Road, Suite 305, Manassas, 20110
No. The city shares the Prince William Area Agency on Aging with Prince William County and the City of Manassas. You can reach it at (703) 792-6374.
Project Mend-A-House serves Manassas Park, and its listed work includes installing stair climbers. Service is free for households under its income guidelines and sliding-scale above them. Call (703) 792-7663.
The HISA grant explicitly excludes stair glides. The SAH and SHA grants do not name stair lifts, so ask the VA directly at (800) 827-1000, or talk with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services Manassas office at (703) 479-7437.
The program covers up to 50% of retrofitting costs, capped at $6,500, for permanent accessibility features, but it does not list stair lifts by name. Call (804) 371-7000 to confirm before you apply.
Yes, in most cases. Townhouses may need a lift for each flight or a curved rail through a landing, and shared stairwells in walk-ups and low-rise buildings need approval from the building owner first.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
